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January 19, 2026

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

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Cambridge Honors Elks, Ironman

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The Cambridge City Council honored two civic organizations for their long-standing contributions to the community during its regular meeting on Monday, presenting citations and keys to the city.

The Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World Lodge No. 223 was recognized first for its decades of service in Cambridge and Dorchester County. Commission President Sputty Cephas presided over the presentation of a citation and the key to the city at the Jan. 12 meeting.

The citation, read by Cephas, praised the lodge’s dedication and community impact, noting its “tireless efforts, integrity, and generosity” and stating that the organization has enriched lives and strengthened bonds of friendship throughout the city.

The Rev. Dr. William Wallace, exalted ruler of Dorchester Lodge 223, thanked the council for the honor and emphasized that the Elks’ work would not have been possible without the support of the Progressive of Dorchester Temple No. 224. Wallace acknowledged the organization and its leader, Daughter Ruler Sharon Chester, for their partnership and commitment to community service.

Later in the meeting, the council recognized the Eagleman and Ironman triathlon organizations for bringing years of positive attention and economic activity to Cambridge. Cephas read a citation highlighting the races’ international reach and their lasting impact on the community.

Commissioner Brian Roche presented a key to the city to representatives of the organization in attendance. An Ironman representative noted that Ironman is in its 12th year in Cambridge and Eagleman in its 30th year, crediting the city and its residents for creating a welcoming environment that keeps athletes returning year after year.

She said the city’s and community’s support has been essential to the success of the events and described Cambridge as an ideal location for hosting the races.

 

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Dorchester the Beautiful: Stunning Drone Footage of Hooper’s Island

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The Spy’s own renegade-with-a-drone Agent 86 has been complaining of cabin fever lately, what with all the cold weather, wind, and rain. So he made a weekend visit to Hooper’s Island in search of the perfect crab cake, which also yielded spectacular aerial footage of one of the county’s ecological treasures.  Lore has it that namesake Henry Hooper purchased the islands from the Yaocomico tribe for five woolen blankets in the 1660’s, making it the oldest settled area in Dorchester County.   Hooper was friends with the Calverts and is considered a founding father of Maryland.

The video is approximately three minutes in length.   

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

CWDI looks to 2026: Cambridge Harbor poised to ‘Reset the Region’

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As the new year begins, Cambridge Waterfront Development Inc. (CWDI) is accelerating efforts to revive the long-stalled Cambridge Harbor project, with a commercial broker now engaged to market developable parcels and momentum building toward a boutique hotel as the project’s anchor.

Board President Angie Hengst and Chief Administrative Officer Tracy Ward, who joined in November 2025, say the volunteer-led organization has turned a corner after years of delays, litigation, and transparency concerns.

“We’re at that tipping point where we’re really moving forward,” Hengst said in a recent Spy Interview. “We feel right now we’re at that tipping point where we’re really moving forward.”

The 31-acre waterfront site along the Choptank River aims to blend public amenities with mixed-use development: a central park, enhanced beach and promenade (now open with benches, tables, and paths), walkable streets, a hotel, restaurants, and residential/commercial parcels. The plan adheres to new urbanist principles, emphasizing accessibility and community use.

A key step: CWDI sought proposals for a commercial broker in September 2025, with the offering memorandum slated for early 2026. Hengst called it “transformative” for a volunteer board lacking large-scale development expertise.

“We’re really excited to bring our broker on board,” she said. “They know exactly who the players are. They know who to talk to. They know how to frame the project in such a way that it’ll attract developers much more than we could ever do on our own.”

With 30 years of experience in economic development, including leading Easton’s waterfront master plan, brings financing expertise crucial for infrastructure funding, including tax increment financing (TIF).

“Infrastructure is the stuff mostly below the ground. . .  .  It’s very expensive,” Ward said. “We’re really going to need to navigate some extensive fundraising strategies and partner with the city, in partnership with the state and the county.”

TIF timing depends on developer feedback and is likely to advance in the first quarter of 2026, though the hotel must be under construction first. Negotiations with a prospective hotelier continue, with hopes for a deal that could see the boutique property open by early 2029.

The site plan is expected to remain consistent with the board’s original ideas, with minor refinements from professionals, Ward and Hengst agreed. 

“We don’t see the site design or ideas changing that drastically,” Hengst said. “That basic layout, we would like to stay the same. . . We still want it to be a new urbanist design. We still want it to be a walkable community.”

Addressing past criticisms, including a 2024 city lawsuit resolved in August, Hengst acknowledged transparency issues stemmed from the board’s learning curve.

“Yes, the community definitely felt there was a lack of transparency in the past,” she acknowledged. Improvements include monthly board meetings broadcast on town hall streams, quarterly partner updates, and direct outreach: “If you have a question . . . we’re happy to respond.”

Completed public elements, such as the newly-illuminated promenade, demonstrate a commitment to accessibility. “The promenade is complete,” Hengst said. “It’s open for use for the community. . . Nothing that is built on this site [will ever]  close off the community to their access to the waterfront.”

Ward painted an ambitious vision for the project’s impact, calling it “an incredibly important parcel, not only, again, to Cambridge, but to the region, to really a reset for the region.”

She elaborated: “This project, given that it’s so visible and it’s absolutely exquisite location on the Choptank, really has potentially . . .  a regional draw and from a tourism perspective, it’ll put Cambridge on the map. . . . It will build on [nearby] Hyatt’s success.  It’s an area that will provide recreation. . . . And so these assets that are here already in Cambridge are going to be enhanced.”

With the broker process underway and public amenities drawing visitors, CWDI hopes 2026 brings visible progress and renewed excitement.

“I am excited about the future of CWDI,” Hengst said. “There’s a lot of really great things coming up in the next year that’ll even excite and invigorate the community even more.”

For updates, visit cambridgeharbor.org or contact CWDI directly.

The video is approximately 16 minutes.  It was produced by P. Ryan Anthony 

 

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Delegate Proposes Bill to Bar ICE Officers From State Law Enforcement

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Citing the devolution of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into a “lawless paramilitary front” that has inflicted catastrophic damage upon the people of Maryland, State Delegate Adrian Boafo (D-23-Prince George’s County) will sponsor legislation that would disqualify certain sworn ICE officers from pursuing subsequent job opportunities with state law enforcement agencies.

The bill, titled the ICE Breaker Act of 2026, would apply to any individual who has or will join the agency as a sworn officer on or after the inauguration of President Trump on January 20, 2025. It would not apply to those who joined the agency prior to that date and have remained with the agency, nor would it apply to those who have served in administrative capacities.

“These are a group of people who, under the cover of masks and without proper identification, are willfully executing Donald Trump’s racist immigration policies through harassment, intimidation, and violence against innocent people,” said Boafo. “In so doing, they have taken parents from their children, left struggling families without their breadwinners, and have left countless Marylanders afraid to leave their homes.”

Boafo’s bill comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched the most aggressive officer recruitment campaign in its history. In an effort to achieve the Trump Administration’s goal of one million deportations by the end of 2025, DHS has more than doubled its officer ranks since July.

Meanwhile, a recent Washington Post story detailed its plans for a “wartime recruitment strategy” which, on social media, “mixes immigration raid footage with memes from action movies and video games to portray ICE’s mission as a fight against the ‘enemies … at the gates.”

“Want to deport illegals with your absolute boys?” one post says. “Are you going to cowboy up or just lie there and bleed?” says another.

Despite the apocalyptic rhetoric, data has shown that since Trump took office, more than half of Marylanders arrested have never been charged with a crime. According to the Baltimore Banner, two-thirds of the more than 700 people arrested by ICE between September 1 and October 15 have never been charged with a crime.

To meet the aggressive hiring quotas, DHS has shortened officer training periods from six months to six weeks, suspended federal hiring procedures and eliminated age caps for its recruits.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that monitors the activity of hate groups across the nation, wrote recently that “DHS has since continued to post a barrage of graphics, ranging from overt nationalist and antisemitic imagery to coded racist dog whistles about the supposed loss of white American culture, in attempts to recruit people to join ICE.”

While veteran ICE officers and administrative employees will not be covered by Boafo’s legislation, he still expects state law enforcement agencies to take the backgrounds of such applicants into consideration during the hiring process.

It is not uncommon for law enforcement agents to move between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as opportunities become available. However, according to Boafo, those who are motivated to support this Administration’s immigration policies and principles by joining ICE do not merit positions of trust within state government.

“These people do not have the training, credentials or character to serve and protect the people of Maryland,” he said. “Their values are not ours, and they have no place collecting salaries and benefits from the taxpayers of our state,” he said.

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ESLC Protects 170-Acre Dorchester Farm with New WILD Grant

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A Dorchester County family farm near Vienna has gained permanent protection from future housing subdivisions, warehouses, and commercial sprawl thanks to a pair of federal programs that conservation leaders hope will safeguard more of the Eastern Shore’s rural landscape.

Late last year, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) completed a conservation easement on the 170 acres of farmland and woodland owned by the Sellers family near the Nanticoke River. The agreement ensures the property will remain open to farming and wildlife while permanently blocking most types of development.

This project marks the first on the Eastern Shore to use funding from the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense program, known as Chesapeake WILD. To complete the easement, ESLC paired those dollars with money from the U.S. Navy’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program, or REPI.

Steve Kline, ESLC’s president and chief executive officer, said the two programs working together show a powerful new way to keep large blocks of land from being paved over.

“We’re trying to protect the property in perpetuity,” Kline said. “That means protecting its agricultural viability and its open space viability forever.”

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a land trust. The owner gives up the right to build houses, stores, or factories on the property. Farming, hunting, and other traditional rural activities can continue. The restrictions stay with the land’s deed, no matter who owns it in the future.

“There’s a lot of belief in the public out there that somehow people can buy themselves out of these easements or that if somebody changes their mind later on, all they have to do is write a check and the easement goes away,” Kline said. “That is not how these easements work.”

The Sellers property includes productive crop fields and forested areas that provide homes for wildlife and links to thousands of surrounding acres already under protection, creating larger stretches of open land that help animals move and keep local creeks and rivers cleaner.

Located near the Nanticoke River and along Chicone Creek, the property includes 135 acres of productive agricultural fields and 35 acres of forested habitat. Reggie III, who lives on and actively farms the land, is already part of the ownership chain, helping ensure multigenerational stewardship.

For the Sellers family, the decision goes beyond finances. “You’ve got to love the land,” Kathy Sellers said. “Selling for development might offer quicker profits, but preserving this heritage feels far more valuable in the long term.”

Chesapeake WILD grants come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are awarded competitively through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Projects must show substantial benefits for habitat, water quality, and wildlife movement, especially as sea levels rise.

“The WILD money is a little different because you have to compete for it,” Kline said. “Winning this grant gives the conservancy a proven track record that could open doors to more funding for future projects across the Shore.

The REPI program works differently. The Navy and other branches of the military use it to prevent dense development near bases and training areas. In this region, open land helps protect flight paths around Patuxent River Naval Air Station. In Dorchester, those military needs closely align with local goals of saving farms and wetlands. Kline said the Navy has been an “excellent partner.”

ESLC sees consistent development pressure on the Eastern Shore. Encroachment of traditional housing remains a concern near major roads, but new threats include large warehouses, shopping centers, and utility-scale solar farms.

Maryland has set ambitious goals for renewable energy. Big solar projects can cover hundreds of acres of farmland under panels for 25 years or more.

“When they come, they take farms out of production,” Kline said. Once the leases end, he added, the land often does not return to the same kind of farming.

These changes can break up open spaces, harm soil, and add more runoff into waterways. Conservation easements offer a direct way for willing landowners to stop that on their property.

The larger mission, Kline said, is to preserve what makes the Eastern Shore special for future generations.

“When you think about what you love about the Eastern Shore, everybody you talk to is going to talk about the way it feels to live here,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to protect.”

Public benefits flowing from protected land include continued bucolic scenes along rural roads, habitat for wildlife, and healthier, less polluted creeks and rivers.  

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Cambridge From the Couch: Resolutions for the City

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To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, who visited our city in 1960, “Ask not what Cambridge can do for you, but what you can do for Cambridge.”

Most people know that Cambridge was once a thriving, important city, to which people flocked from all over the Eastern Shore and beyond. Honestly, it’s unlikely ever to be that way again, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make it the best it can be now. And its best could really be something, if we all put in the effort toward that goal.

So, what can we do for Cambridge this year? Well, I have some suggestions.

Patronize a downtown business

We lost too many businesses in 2025, including Laughing Lotus, Shorelife Home and Gifts, River Dogs Outfitters, and the venerable Choptank Bowling and Billiards. It’s vital that we not only stem that tide but also bring in many more vendors to fill our downtown. Supporting these businesses matters—for us, for our neighbors, and for the community as a whole. It helps keep the heart of the city alive by boosting the economy, enhancing quality of life, and celebrating what makes our hometown special. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee, shopping for a gift, or enjoying a meal with friends, every dollar you spend downtown helps support a thriving, vibrant Cambridge.

Visit the Dorchester Center for the Arts or Main Street Gallery

As a central part of Cambridge’s creative community, DCA offers high-quality, engaging programming in the visual, literary, and performing arts through exhibits, events, and workshops. By visiting regularly, getting involved, and maybe even making a purchase in the gift shop, you help strengthen the connection between Cambridge and the arts. At the same time, Main Street Gallery is also part of the town’s Arts and Entertainment District. As a privately operated cooperative gallery, it relies on people buying the work of its artists, who work in all mediums. Cambridge needs a vibrant arts scene to be able to stand with the likes of Easton.

Attend City Council meetings or watch remotely

The City Council meets in the Council Chambers at 305 Gay Street at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Attending these meetings is one of the most direct ways we can stay informed, engaged, and influential in how our city is governed. You can see how decisions are made, ensure transparency and accountability, make your voice heard, understand issues before they affect you, be a more informed voter, and help strengthen the community. If you can’t attend in person, you can still watch live or by recording via Town Hall Streams, a website that offers broadcast and archive services. Even if you watch the recording later, you still stay informed and can follow long-term issues over multiple meetings. It’s a practical way to stay engaged on your own schedule. City Council meetings are where local democracy happens. Staying engaged helps ensure Cambridge’s decisions reflect the needs, values, and voices of the people who live here.

Attend CWDI meetings

The mission of Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc. is to develop the Cambridge Waterfront in partnership with the community to create and sustainably maintain Cambridge Harbor as an inviting and enjoyable place to live, work, and visit. Attending the open portions of CWDI Board meetings and public sessions gives you information, influence, and insight into a major project that will shape Cambridge’s waterfront for decades. It’s a way to be informed, to contribute to community decisions, and to understand how public resources and development efforts are being directed.

Contact the City Manager with concerns or ideas

The City Manager, the chief executive officer and head of the administrative branch of Cambridge, is responsible for the proper administration of all affairs of the city. Our current City Manager, Glenn Steckman, maintains an open door policy and has Saturday office hours twice a month. Communicating with him is a good idea because the City Manager is at the center of how the city operates, makes decisions, and delivers services that affect your daily life. This relationship will help you stay informed, share your views, and contribute to the continual improvement of Cambridge’s government and services. It’s a key way to be an active, engaged resident and help shape the future of your community.

Join the Cambridge Association of Neighborhoods

CAN is a community-based organization dedicated to encouraging and supporting everyone in Cambridge to be good neighbors. Its mission is to strengthen neighborhoods by improving safety, enhancing quality of life, and promoting the overall well-being of residents. CAN advocates for safe streets, well-maintained and code-compliant housing, inclusive cultural and social events, and active civic engagement throughout the city. Membership is open to both renters and homeowners (and is free). Becoming a member of CAN is a smart way to have a voice in the future of your neighborhood and your city. Members stay informed about local issues, connect with neighbors from across Cambridge, and help shape solutions that make communities safer, more welcoming, and more vibrant. By joining CAN, you’re not just supporting an organization—you’re investing in stronger neighborhoods and a healthier, more connected Cambridge.

Buy books at the Friends of the Library’s monthly book sale

The Friends of the Dorchester County Public Library is organized to bring together those who value their public library. They help the library achieve its operational goals, encourage giving for the benefit of the library, and work to enhance the community through library programs. The Friends hold a used book sale on the Second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering lots of books of many genres for all ages. By supporting this endeavor, you help ensure our city’s library remains healthy and useful.

Visit the Cambridge Farmers Market

Operating on Thursdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. from April through November, the Long Wharf Farmers Market is a local favorite where approximately 18 vendors can be found throughout the season, including many local Dorchester and Eastern Shore regional farmers, crafters, and specialty food vendors. Shopping at Cambridge’s farmers market matters because it strengthens the community in very real, local ways. It keeps money local, supports local farmers and food security, builds community connections, improves public health, activates public spaces, and reflects our identity. The market showcases the region’s agricultural heritage and local creativity, reinforcing what makes Cambridge unique rather than generic.

Tour the Richardson Maritime Museum or Dorchester Historical Society’s campus

Celebrating and chronicling Cambridge’s 300 years of maritime history, the Richardson Maritime Museum offers an introduction to the area’s culture and the craftsmen who created it. The main museum is currently open upon request while the Ruark Boatworks is open three days a week and for special events. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and vital to the survival of this amazing destination. Meanwhile, the Dorchester County Historical Society preserves and displays the area’s history in detail. You can explore exhibits on the local original Native Americans, colonial history, famous Dorchester residents, and more. Check out the impressive library or attend workshops throughout the year. The membership fee and modest admission fees help sustain this important gem in our community.

Participate in our local events

Cambridge offers regular events like the monthly Second Saturdays with music and art downtown, but there are also larger annual festivals such as the Ice & Oyster Festival (January), Eagleman Triathlon (June), and Groove City Culture Fest (August). Participating in Cambridge’s local events strengthens the community in ways that directly benefit residents, businesses, and the city as a whole. They build community pride and connection, support the economy, showcase our culture and history, and encourage civic engagement.

Donate to Downtown Cambridge (or volunteer)

Downtown Cambridge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown Main Street District and is supported solely by charitable donations from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. It’s community driven, fostering economic vitality and preserving and promoting our historic downtown while enhancing a dynamic and inclusive city center. The organization seeks to connect the community, visitors, and businesses. A great way to help this happen is to donate or even volunteer.

Subscribe to The Cambridge Spy!

Not to brag (OK, maybe a little), but The Cambridge Spy can strengthen both your civic awareness and your community. Subscribing helps you stay informed about the news that matters to you locally, supports quality journalism, strengthens civic engagement, promotes accountability, and keeps you connected to the decisions and stories shaping Cambridge’s present and future.

So, are you ready to make these New Year’s resolutions a reality? What other things can we do for Cambridge? Leave a comment!

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Cambridge Rotary Club Announces Event Updates for Choptank Chill & Cheer Polar Plunge

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The Cambridge Rotary Club has released new details for its first-ever Choptank Chill & Cheer event, a polar plunge fundraiser set for Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina.

Presented by the Hyatt Regency, the afternoon event invites participants to “chill or cheer” as brave plungers take a dip into the chilly Choptank River from the resort’s private beach.

All proceeds will benefit the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence (MSCFV), a nonprofit that has provided critical support to domestic violence survivors across five Eastern Shore counties for over 40 years.

The event kicks off at 2 p.m. inside the scenic Water’s Edge Grill, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the river, resort pool, and outdoor fireplace.

Highlights include live music by local performers Anna Burgess and Jayme Dingler, an energizing warm-up led by the MSCFV Polar Bears, and a post-plunge party with awards for top fundraisers (including a plush Polar Plunge robe) and best costumes.

Attendees can enjoy complimentary all-you-can-drink hot chocolate, warm chili, soft pretzels, cookies, and light snacks. A cash bar will offer adult beverages (valid ID required), with sodas available for purchase.

Plungers will have access to hot tubs, complimentary towels, and on-site locker rooms to warm up afterwards.

Admission is $25 per person (approximately $28.52 including fees via Eventbrite), with everyone welcome to attend—whether plunging or cheering from the sidelines. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Event merchandise, including T-shirts ($30) and sweatshirts ($55), will be available for purchase on-site.

The Cambridge Rotary Club extends thanks to presenting sponsor Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina; Ice Breaker Sponsor Morgan Stanley; and Frosty Friend Sponsor Shorely Beautiful.

For more information or to register, visit the Eventbrite page.

“We’re freezin’ for a reason,” organizers say, encouraging the community to come out for this fun, impactful event supporting a vital local cause.

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Portside’s Oyster Ball Set for January 10 with Bird Dog & the Road Kings

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The 11th Annual Oyster Ball returns to Portside Seafood Restaurant on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 6 pm. The event is held every year to raise funds for Dorchester County Watermen (Dorchester Seafood Heritage Association). Eastern Shore legends Bird Dog & the Road Kings once again headline the event.

“We are so excited to host the Oyster Ball and show our support for the Watermen,” said Marcia Christopher, owner of Portside. Event Co-Founder, Keith Graffius, agrees. “What started 11 years ago as a little party has turned into a major event raising tens of thousands of dollars for our watermen over the years.”

There will also be a “Toast To Tracie” at the Ball in memory of Tracie Whiteley, who passed away earlier this year. She was Portside’s “mom” and a lifetime supporter of our watermen.

There is no charge to attend the Oyster Ball, but raffle tickets are available to purchase at Portside. Winner-take-all raffle tickets are $20 and contain over $3,000 in prizes including Staycations at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake and a night at one of Fagers Island Hotels in Ocean City.

Portside Seafood Restaurant is located at 201 Trenton St., Cambridge, Maryland and is open daily serving a traditional Eastern Shore menu.  For more information, call (410) 228-9007 or click here.

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Kids’ Christmas Wishes Open New YMCA Family Center

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Flanked by YMCA staff and local officials, past Dorchester County Family YMCA board member and Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development and Facility Management Chris Hauge cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the new Family Engagement Center.

With a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday afternoon, the Pauline F. and W. David Robbins Family YMCA officially opened a newly renovated space for Cambridge families, before the focus shifted to holiday cheer as children lined up to tell Santa what they hoped to find under the tree.

The opening of the Bob Brannock Family Engagement Center at the Robbins Y was followed by an evening of holiday activities that drew dozens of families from all over Dorchester into the building. Photos with Santa, cookies and cocoa, crafts, and book displays filled the new multi-purpose space as parents and children lingered into the evening.

Santa, portrayed by Jeffrey Hill, listened patiently as youngsters shared their Christmas lists. Nathan Jackson, 6, of Hurlock, said he was hoping for a computer to play video games and an electric dirt bike. Nairobi Murray, 5, asked for a nail kit and a bracelet, while her brother Brandon, 6, had video games at the top of his list.

Friends Amira Greene and Alani Johnson, both 7, arrived with ambitious requests. Alani asked for skincare products, a vanity set, and an electric motorbike. Amira, a Lilo & Stitch enthusiast, requested plane tickets to Maui for her family – including their dog – along with a cosmetics kit and an electric motorbike to roll through town with Alania. Isla Weglarz, 6, of Woolford, who attended with her mother, Lauren, and asked Santa for a Gabby’s Dollhouse toy and a puzzle.

Cambridge friends Amira Greene and Alani Johnson, both 7, had big requests for Santa: plane tickets, motorbikes, and cosmetic kits.

As children waited for their turn with Santa, families circulated through the bright, newly finished space. The Family Engagement Center was created by combining and renovating two former racquetball courts and adjacent storage areas, transforming several rooms into a single, open space for programming and community gatherings. The project took nearly a year to complete and cost approximately $500,000.

Robbins YMCA Executive Director Jennifer Lehn told The Spy that the new center will allow the Y to expand programs previously limited by space and temperature concerns, including senior fitness classes and Rock Steady Boxing, a non-contact fitness program designed for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

“We’re really looking forward to filling the space with programs,” Lehn said, noting the center will also support large senior classes that were previously affected by extreme heat or cold in the gym.

The room will be used for important children’s programming, including birth-to-five activities and early literacy efforts connected to the Dorchester County Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, as well as educational programs and meetings with community partners.

Nathan Jackson, 6, of Hurlock, after negotiating a new computer to play video games and an electric dirt bike with Santa.

The investment comes as YMCA leaders continue to weigh the long-term needs of the Cambridge facility, which is housed in a nearly 100-year-old former high school building that faces ongoing structural challenges.

Robbie Gill, CEO of the YMCA of the Chesapeake, said the improvements were necessary but do not diminish the organization’s belief that Dorchester County ultimately needs a new YMCA.

“The project is a substantial investment,” Gill said. “As the backbone organization for the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, [the YMCA] is committed to working with our partners and the community to expand programs and services for young children.”

Gill said the YMCA remains focused on ensuring students are reading on grade level by third grade, even as conversations about a future relocation continue.

“We still deeply believe a new Y is needed in Dorchester County,” he said. “But not at the expense of those that need our support, programs, and services today and tomorrow.”

A proposal to relocate the facility to the Cambridge waterfront previously drew public opposition, which discouraged donor interest, Gill said.   Meanwhile, the organization is encouraged by the progress being made at the existing site and sees the new center as critical to meet immediate community needs while longer-term solutions remain under consideration.

Isla Weglarz, 6, of Woolford, asked Santa for a Gabby’s Dollhouse toy and a puzzle for Christmas.

The new center is named in honor of Charles Robert “Bob” Brannock, a longtime YMCA supporter who volunteered thousands of hours at the YMCA of Dorchester County, repairing equipment and improving the facility.  

A lifelong advocate for physical fitness, Brannock attended the Y daily and remained active as a sailor, cyclist, and rower until declining health from Parkinson’s forced him to give it up. The introduction of Rock Steady Boxing, therapeutic for Parkinson’s, is a further tribute to Brannock. 

As families celebrated the season, YMCA leaders said the new Brannock Family Engagement Center honors its namesake while helping the organization make the most of its aging home as plans for the future continue.

Here is a video preview of the new  Rock Steady Boxing program that will start shortly in the new center.

And the new Enhanced Fitness program.

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Spy Longform Interview: A Case Study in Affordable Housing with Fello’s Ross Benincasa

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If there has been any progress over the last few years on the Mid-Shore in terms of affordable housing, much of the credit must go to Fello. The organization, formerly known as The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, has made significant strides in Easton and plans to expand to other communities on the Eastern Shore.

Housing has become one of the most pressing and complicated issues facing the Shore, and few organizations are as close to both the problem and the solutions as Fello. For this interview, the Spy spoke with Ross Benincasa, Senior Vice President of Community Development, about how the organization is tackling housing through a mix of affordability, inclusivity, and long-term commitment to the communities it serves.

Fello’s work spans group homes, supported living, and large-scale mixed-income development across the Eastern Shore and throughout Maryland. Ross walks through projects like Port Street Commons, Easton Crossing, Silo Court, and the Laura House, explaining why mixed-income and mixed-ability housing is central to Fello’s approach. He also discusses the importance of speed, quality design, and two- and three-bedroom units in creating stable homes for families.

With rent growth here having outpaced nearly every county in Maryland, it is placing real pressure on working families, seniors, and those on the edge of homelessness. Ross speaks candidly about what Fello is seeing on the ground, why infill housing matters, and how consistency and long-term ownership can help address a housing market under strain.

This video is approximately 18 minutes in length. For more information about Fello, please go to their website here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.